Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour

Day
01 : Flight to India (New Delhi)
You arrive in Delhi by international flight. After a traditional 'Swagat'
(welcome) our representatives would assist to our hotel for check in and
overnight stay.

Day 02 : New Delhi - Lucknow (by train)
This morning city tour of old and New Delhi. In the afternoon we will drive
to the railway station for the train to Lucknow. Overnight in Train.

Day 03 : Lucknow - Sravasti (about 170 km)
Upon arrival in Lucknow, we will drive further to Sravasti. Sravasti
(ancient Savatthi) was the capital of Kosala Mahajanapada and was the
biggest town in the Gangetic plains during the Buddha's lifetime. Sravasti
was host to the Master for 25 year during the annual vassavasa (rain
retreat) when the Sangha congregated at one place. Sravasti is situated in
Gonda district in eastern Uttar Pradesh called Sahet-Mahet. In Sravasti we
visit the famous monastery where Lord Buddha spent 24 rainy seasons
preaching.

Day 04 : Sravasti - Kushinagar (about 380 km)
Today in the morning drive from Sravasti to Kushinagar. Kushinagar is the
place that the Buddha chose for his Mahaparinirvana, or final exit from this
earth. Kushinagar or Kushinara as it was then known was the capital of the
Malla Republic, one of the republican states of northern India during the
6th and 5th centuries BC. There are several new monasteries and temples.
Today we visit the Rambhar Stupa that marks Buddha's cremation ground.
Mahakashyapa lit the funeral prayer at Mukutabandha Vihara (Rambhar Stupa)
in Kushinagar. Today not much remains of this stupa except a large brick
mount rising to a height of almost 15 metres set within a well-kept park. We
also visit the large Burmese Chandramani Bhikshu Bharamasala. This is the
oldest monastery in Kushinagar. We will also visit the Kushinagar Museum.

Day 05 : Kushinagar - Patna (about
253 km)
In the morning after having breakfast we drive further to Patna. Patna, the
was thriving township ancient Indian town of Pataliputra was thriving
townshipduring the Buddha's lifetime. Patna, the state capital of Bihar is
situated on the banks of the Ganga. It is the major Entry point for pilgrims
who wish to travel in the footsteps of the Buddha. Today we will drive to
Kumrahar to see the ruins of Pataliputra which is about 6 km from Gandhi
Maidan. The remains of a massive assembly hall with bases of 80 pillars have
been excavated at the site, of which only one pillar remains intact.

Day 06 : Patna
Today after having breakfast we have sightseeing in Patna. Today we visit
Patna Sahib,The British Museum, Golghar, Patna established the Patna Museum
in the year 1917. This museum has more than 50,000 rare and valuable
antiquities and art objects. The most prized possession here is the Holy
Relic Casket containing the sacred ashes of the Buddha, unearthed in
Vaishali. Golhar is a mammoth concrete granary built by the British,
subsequent to the great famine of 1770. Two spiral staircases from either
side lead to the top, which affords a panoramic view of the Ganga and the
town. Gurudwara Har Mandir Sahib, popularly known as Patna Sahib is the
sacred shrine of the Sikhs. The site is hallowed as the birthplace of the
10th Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh. Between Patna Sahib is
Gulzarbagh, where the opium factory and the storehouses of the British were
located. It now houses the Government Printing Press.

Day 07 : Patna - Nalanda - Rajgir (about 100 km)
In the morning after having breakfast we drive to Rajgir. Enroute we visit
Nalanda, the ancient Buddhist University. During the lifetime of the Buddha
Rajgir (Rajgriha) was the capital of the powerful Magadhan Kingdom, ruled by
the virtuous king Bimbisara. Rajgir is about 100 km from Patna. This town
attracts various pilgrims and tourists. The town also boasts the largest
number of horse drawn carriages. Today we will visit the Vishwa Shanti
Stupa. It is a marble structure with niches bearing golden images of the
Buddha, built by the Nipponza Myohoji sect of Japan. Opposite the Stupa
stands the Saddharma Buddha Vihara. Then we will drive further to
Griddhakuta. The strange rock protrusion resembling a vulture's beak
probably gave the hill its name. In the rock cut caves here the Buddha spent
many rainy seasons, meditating and preaching. Rajgir is also famous for its
seven hot Sulphur Springs, Satadhara. Satadhara is situated at the foot of
Vaibhava Hill. The hot springs are a part of the Lakshmi Narayan Temple
complex.

Day 08 : Rajgir -Bodhgaya (about 70 km)
In the morning after having breakfast we drive to Bodhgaya. Bodhgaya (once
Uruvela village) is the place where 2500 years ago in the 6th century BC, a
young ascetic, Siddhartha attained enlightenment to become the Buddha and
found Buddhism one of the world's oldest religions. Bodhgaya is the
spiritual home of the Buddhists. Today we visit the Mahabodhi temple built
to mark the spot where the Buddha attained enlightenment. The famous
Mahabodhi temple, which stands in the centre of the Mahabodhi Temple complex
has been restored and rebuilt over the centuries. The Mahabodhi Temple
Complex houses all the major pilgrimage spots. A large circular stone with
the Buddha's footprints is kept in a small shrine on the left. We also visit
the Bodhgaya museum that is located near the Mahabodhi temple. It houses
antiquities excavated in and around Bodhgaya. It has a large collection of
Buddhist and Hindu relies (terra cotta) seals, scriptures and pillars from
the Sunga period.

Day 09 : Bodhgaya -Varanasi (about 242 km)
In the morning we drive further to Varanasi. Varanasi is without doubt
India's most sacred city and thus visited by over one million people.
Varanasi is also called the city of light -Kashi or Benaras. Buddha visited
this city in 500 BC. Varanasi is regarded one of the oldest and the holiest
city. According to the Indian chronicles, Varanasi was established as a city
around twelve hundred years ago before the Christian era.

Day 10 : Varanasi
In the early morning we take boat -ride on the holy River Ganges and enjoy
sunrise on the boat. Ghats (flight of steps) and the activities of pilgrims
on that, are the principal attraction for visitors to Varanasi. Thousands of
pilgrims and devotees visit this city to make holy prayers, to meditate and
to purify themselves through taking a bath in the holy river Ganges. In the
noon we visit the city of Varanasi

Day
11 : Varanasi - New Delhi (by air)
In the afternoon we drive to the airport for the flight out from Varanasi
to New Delhi. In New Delhi we have rest of the day at leisure. Rooms are
available to get fresh and change before we depart to the airport with our
representative.